COPD decisions — 2019

The Board has denied service connection for sleep apnea and COPD, finding that there is no evidence linking these conditions to the Veteran's military service or a service-connected disability.

The Board has determined that additional development is needed to determine the nature and etiology of the Veteran's claimed conditions, including his shoulder disorders, foot disorder, GERD, and respiratory disorder. The claims are being remanded for further action.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for sinusitis and/or allergic rhinitis, asthma and associated COPD, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including anxiety and depression), and obstructive sleep apnea. The remaining issues of service connection for sensorineural bilateral hearing loss and tinnitus have been denied.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the cause of the Veteran's COPD, including his alleged exposure to chemicals during service. The claim will be returned for further development and a supplemental medical opinion.

The Board denied the Veteran's claim for service connection for his pulmonary disorders, finding that there was no evidence of asbestos exposure during service and insufficient medical opinion to establish a link between current conditions and military service.

The Veteran's diabetes mellitus is granted as presumed due to herbicide exposure. The cases for COPD and a psychiatric disorder are remanded for additional development.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to the need for an additional medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's pulmonary disorder, including COPD, IPF and lung nodules, is related to his military service, specifically exposure to herbicide agents like Agent Orange.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient evidence regarding the Veteran's respiratory disabilities and their relationship to service, including any service-connected conditions.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left hand muscle joint pain, right hand muscle joint pain, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) bronchial asthma. The evidence does not support a finding that these conditions were incurred in or aggravated by service.,There is no current objective evidence linking the Veteran’s claimed right hand cramping to his environmental exposures during deployment in Southwest Asia.

The Veteran's claims for increased ratings for COPD and CAD were denied. The VA determined that the evidence did not support a higher rating for COPD prior to January 25, 2016, or for CAD.

The Board has granted service connection for COPD but has remanded the issues of OSA and pulmonary nodules due to conflicting medical opinions.

The Board has decided to remand the case for further development, including a new VA examination and opinion regarding the Veteran's respiratory disability.

The Board has granted the appellant's petition to reopen his previously denied claim of service connection for COPD. The Board also found that the appellant's kidney stones, bladder stones, prostate disorder, and immune system disorder are not related to his service-connected COPD or any other in-service injury or disease.

The Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea, right femoral hernia, left femoral hernia, an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and PTSD), and COPD have all been denied. The Board found no current diagnoses of these conditions.,There is no evidence showing the Veteran has any current diagnosed sleep apnea, right or left femoral hernias, or an acquired psychiatric disorder (including depressive disorder and PTSD).

The Board has remanded the claim for service connection for a respiratory disability, including as secondary to herbicide exposure (Agent Orange), due to the need for an examination and opinion regarding the relationship between current diagnoses of COPD and asthma and in-service exposures.

The Veteran's claim for service connection for COPD was denied in April 2015, and the Board found that new evidence did not establish a nexus between his current condition and his military service.

The Veteran's appeal for service connection for COPD due to asbestos exposure has been dismissed because the Veteran died during the pendency of the appeal.

The Veteran's bilateral hearing loss is granted as it is at least as likely as not related to her active service, including noise exposure in service.,The preponderance of the evidence does not support finding that the Veteran’s lung condition began during active service or is otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

Service connection for coronary artery disease and diabetes mellitus is granted. Service connection for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, neuropathy of the right lower extremity, and neuropathy of the left lower extremity are remanded.

The claims of service connection for right ear hearing loss and COPD have been reopened, but the Veteran's request to reopen his dental disorder, back disorder, trigger finger condition in both hands, acquired psychiatric disorder (including bipolar disorder, adjustment disorder, impulse disorder, and anxiety), and PTSD claims are being remanded due to outstanding VA treatment records.